CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue X, 9 March 1901, Page 474

CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

Any boy or girl who likes to become a cousin an do so, and write letters to ’Co isin Kate, •are of the Lady Editor. ’Graphic Office, Auckland.

Write on one side of the paper only. All purely correspondence letters with enclopc ends tamed in are carried tlmmxh the Post office as follows:—Not exceeding soz. |<l; not exceeding 4oz, Id ; for every additional 2oz or fractional part thereof, jd. It is well for correspondence to be marked* Press Manuscript only.’ Please note, dear cousins, that all letters addressed to Cousin Kate must now bear the words ' Press Manuscript only. If so marked, and the flap turned in. and not overweight, they will come for a jd stamp in Auckland, but a Id from every other place. COUSINS' CO R R ESBON DENC E. Dear Cousin Kate, —1 must apologise for not answering your letter in the "Graphic” before, this. To tell tile truth. I have been waiting for the private note you promised to send, which 1 have never yet received; also 1 should so mueh like if you would kindly send me a badge. Have I to pay anything for it? We have not received our "New Zealand Graphic” for some weeks now. We have written to see what is the matter, but have had no word yet. So you will understand how backward we are in all the news. Do you know, Cousin Kate, that I got such a nice letter from New York praising up my little story. You never told me what you thought of it, and whether 1 should go on writing. We are a long way from Auckland now, and I fancy you must have lost my address by not hearing from you; but do not worry, you will have it again. Has Bland Holt been to Auckland with the

"Great Ruby?” If he has not you ought to really see it when he does. We all saw it. and it was beautiful, wonderful to watch the balloon rising slowly in the air, and coach and four come on the stage. I am afraid 1 have very little news for you this time. You no doubt will have been in Australia, so will know the place fairly well, very much better than 1 do. You have read of the dreadful dust storm we had last Thursday; it was really terrible: and the heat was so great during the whole day that the bush caught fire and the loss of life was awful. So now T will close.—From yours very sincerely, Cousin Geraldine, Melbourne.

[Dear Cousin Geraldine, —-I quite envy you your stay in Melbourne, though at this time of the year the heat must be somewhat trying. I wrote you quite a long letter, and am sorry you did not get it. Perhaps it has missed you during your travels, and will arrive before you see this in the “Graphic.” You should certainly go on writing. Bland Holt is a great friend of mine, anti sent me an account of the “Great Ruby.” which he thinks the best play he has had for many years. I hope he will l»e here in about a year's time. Please write again soon.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —You yaunot imagine how delighted I was to get that lovely prize you sent me, called "Chatterbox.” I must thank you very much indeed. I have two pets; one of them is a dear little black kitten. and one is a bird. Would you be so kind as to send me a collecting card, as I think I can collect a little. School has been started a week now. There are such a lot of wild cats about here, but you can never catch one. One day when I was out in the bush I saw such a lot of dear little quails. Dear Cousin Kate, would you like me to write you a story? What a lovely letter dear Cousin Roie sent you: she must be having a jolly time. With love to all the cousins and yourself. Cousin Flossie. [Dear Cousin Flossie. —I am glad you liked your prize. Please do write me a story, and if it is very nice I will put it in the “Graphic.” Are the wild cats very savage? I should think they must kill a lot of the young quail. Tell me about your kitten and bird next time you write.— Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate, —We are having dreadfully bad weather down here. The mines have stopped working, and all the men are out of work. I like being in Standard TV.; the work is very easy this quarter. T did not go to school on Friday because it was too wet. The fowls are not laying very well, and we are killing them for Sunday dinner. I am going to get my photo taken soon, and T will send you one, as my photo I have now is not very good.—Cousin Rita. Coromandel.

[Dear Cousin Rita, —How sad it is about the men being out of work. It means so much anxiety, and even suffering. Perhaps it is better again now. I do not know what our climate is coming to. I think it is dreadful to have so little summer weather.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —It is almost nine months since you received my last letter, but you must excuse the neglect, as I have been working up for the scholarship examination, which took place in December. I would have liked to have gained the scholarship, but gained a certificate of proficiency. which I had framed. There must be great excitement in town about the Imperial troops. We had ,' vrite a composition about their visit to New Zealand. I would like another badge, as I have lost my first one. I must do my lessons now, so with love to you and all the cousins. I remain, yours truly Cousin Lilly, [Dear Cousin Lilly.—l am so sorry you did not manage to get the schoiarship'after working so very hard for it. Never mind, the certificate is a very proud possession to have, is it not, and the effort must have improved you greatly. I will send you a second badge with pleasure.— Cousin Kate.]